Coventry v Crewe preview

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Jordan Willis is out of Coventry’s clash with Crewe with an ankle injury.

The defender came off in last week’s 0-0 draw at Bristol City and is joined on the sidelines by Danny Pugh (ankle) but Marcus Tudgay (hamstring) could make an appearance before the end of the season after returning to training.

The Sky Blues will guarantee their safety with victory and they are five points above the bottom four with two games remaining.

And boss Tony Mowbray wants to get the job done, telling the Coventry Telegraph: “We need to try to find the plan to ensure our future in this division.”

Crewe could have a triple boost for the trip to the midlands.

Goalkeeper Ben Garratt is back in full training after suffering a leg break in February and may either back up Paul Rachubka or could even displace the former Leeds shot-stopper between the sticks.

Another long-term absentee may return as Matt Tootle (ankle) is set to be back training following the slight knock which prevented his comeback against Walsall, while Jamie Ness (calf) has had injections to give him a chance at making the fixture.

Defender Alan Tate (ankle) and midfielder Chris Atkinson (dislocated shoulder) will not play again this term for the Alex, who are two points above the drop zone.

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Coventry v Crewe preview

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Coventry boast a luxury of riches ahead of their clash at home to Crewe with the return of four influential players.

Leon Clarke is back in training and set to be available at Sixfields having missed the last three matches with hip and thigh problems, while Callum Wilson also returns to contention having missed last weekend’s FA Cup draw with Hartlepool through suspension.

The influential duo have found the net 25 times between them this season and will be welcomed back to the fold along with on-loan forwards Chris Dagnall and Chris Maguire, who were both been denied permission to feature in the FA Cup by respective parent clubs Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday.

That leaves defender Jordan Willis (knee) as the only absentee for boss Steven Pressley.

Crewe go into their clash against Coventry without their two first-choice goalkeepers.

Boss Steve Davis knew he would be forced into a change between the sticks because on-loan stopper Neil Etheridge has returned to parent club Fulham for treatment on a thigh strain, which might mean he will not feature again before his contract with the Alex expires in the new year.

In Etheridge’s absence, the Railwaymen’s go-to-keeper would probably have been veteran Steve Phillips, yet a shoulder tear has ruled him out so either Alan Martin or Ben Garratt will assume the gloves.

Teenage winger Ryan Colclough (chest infection) is considered fully-fit again but striker Mathias Pogba and midfielder Ollie Turton, both back in full training, will be eased back.

Coventry v Crewe preview

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Coventry may be without Richard Wood as they look to exact revenge on Crewe just three days after their Johnstone’s Paint Trophy endeavours.

The Sky Blues clinched a 2-0 success at Gresty Road on Wednesday night in the second leg of their northern area final but a 3-0 defeat at the Ricoh Arena two weeks previous meant it was Alex who booked their place at Wembley.

Play-off chasing City could avenge their heartache somewhat with three points this weekend as the two sides prepare to do battle for the third time in 19 days.

Centre-back Wood will undergo a scan on a groin injury which forced him off in the second half in midweek.

Caretaker boss Lee Carsley, however, is bolstered by the return of fellow central defender William Edjenguele after he missed the clash altogether with an ankle problem, providing a replacement for Wood should he not make it.

Franck Moussa is also back in training having sat out due to a hip complaint while fellow midfielder James Bailey has shrugged off a back niggle he picked up at Crewe.

Steve Davis could shuffle his pack.

The manager reported no new injuries, meaning he has a fully fit squad to chose from but one drained from their cup exertions.

“Everyone’s reported okay after,” said Davis. “We’ve obviously got a few knocks and bruises and one or two things but nothing untoward.

“We had a light day on Thursday. We’ll think about what we do on Saturday, maybe we’ll make one or two changes.”

Max Clayton and Byron Moore may come into contention for places in attack while Harry Davis provides an option for freshening up the defence.

Coventry v Crewe preview

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Coventry boss Mark Robins has the luxury of a fully-fit squad for the first leg of the Northern Area final against Crewe.

The Sky Blues came through Friday night’s dramatic 2-1 win over Sheffield United with no new injury problems.

Callum Ball returned to the bench following a foot injury while David Bell is available to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from hip and foot problems.

City are expecting the game to be played in front of a sold-out Ricoh Arena and Robins is hopeful the 30,000 fans will make a lot of noise.

“I hope the atmosphere will be electric for 90 minutes,” he told the Coventry Telegraph. “The fans will get behind the players and what’s important is that they stick with the team.”

Crewe forward Ajay Leitch-Smith is pushing for a start in the first-leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern area final against Coventry.

Leitch-Smith came off the bench to net the winner as Steve Davis’ side beat Scunthorpe 1-0 at Gresty Road.

Defender Harry Davis sustained a toe injury during the match and is a doubt having made way for Mark Ellis with an hour played.

The Railwaymen have no other injury problems and assistant manager Neil Baker is relishing the prospect of taking on the Sky Blues at a sold out Ricoh Arena.

“It will be a difficult game but we have two legs to get through and I’m sure Coventry will be looking at it the same way,” he told Crewe’s official website.

“It is a sell-out there, so it will be a great atmosphere for the players to play in and we will bring a lot of away supporters as well to get behind us. It is something to look forward to.”